Welcome!
Steven
about contradance and related topics in Toronto (Ontario, Canada) and
the surrounding area. It's also the place for announcements of direct
interest to Toronto-area contradancers. Questions about contradancing
in these parts? Bet they will be answered if you post them here.
This is a public forum and anybody can read the postings. If you want
to post a message yourself, you must first join the group. Joining the
group involves signing up for a free Google account, if you don't
already have one. Don't forget that the whole world will be able to
read any message you post and that it will be indexed by Internet
search engines--that's just the way groups like this work.
When you join, you get to decide whether you would like to simply read
the postings by visiting this Google Groups webpage or whether you
would also like to receive a copy of every posting via email.
In addition to visiting this "Contradance In Toronto" webpage to post a
message, you can simply send an email message to the group
(Contradanc...@googlegroups.com) and it will be automatically
posted here.
Please consider introducing yourself if you decide to join this
group--the diversity of contradancers' interests, talents and
experience never ceases to amaze!
Hands four and pass it down:
I'm an elementary school teacher and have been contradancing for twenty
years. I am a Toronto Country Dancers' sound tech, I maintain the
Hamilton Country Dancers' website and manage the contact/membership
databases for both the Toronto and Hamilton groups. Every year, I run a
club at my school to introduce grade four and five students to the joys
of contradancing.
Cheers,
Steven
Spinner
My name is Barry and I came to a Contra dance in Toronto about a year
ago, but arrived late so I only watched. I did meet some folks - maybe
some of you - that night and, like all Contra groups, found everyone
very friendly and welcoming. I didn't dance that night, in part because
I am somewhat self-concious and this was a group of strangers and also
I just wanted to check things out. I was also dealing with the
aftermath of some serious ilness, which is now long gone.
I moved to Toronto in 2002, after living in Atlanta and Chattanooga for
20 years. It has been about 6 years since I last Contradanced, although
I have been to a few of the Cajun dances at the Gladstone. While living
south of the Manson-Nixon Line, I was a very active dancer, being
introduced to the dance community through my then-girlfriend, Barbara.
We had wonderful dance chemistry and she taught me so much that quickly
I became a dance junkie. I was hooked.
I ran a blues bar during my early years in Atlanta and we had many
kinds of wonderful, danceable music - Blues, Rockabilly, Cajun and
Zydeco. I danced every chance I could, going to regular Swing dances
(East & West Coast), Contra twice a month or more, tons of Cajun &
Zydeco - often going to Cajun classes (even though I was quite
experienced) to be a male partner as there was always a shortage and I
had the opportunity to dance at least 3 times a week. Several
incredible dancers took me under their wings and, with great patience,
taught me much. They were so good and I was so clumsy, but, hard as it
was for me to believe, they would invite me to go out with them because
they said I was fun to dance with. I guess I was more fun than talented
- they were soooo good! Unfortunately, I've become very rusty.
Some of us used to drive up to Ashville NC, every so often for Contra
week-ends. And we used to go to New Orleans for the Jazz & Heritage
Festive in the spring or to the Festival Acadiens once a year.
I miss the after-dance get togethers at the local Waffle House or, as I
like to call it, Awful House, for a Pecan Waffle with Hash Browns and
Grits. Mmmmm-mmmm!!! Nothing healthy about that! Fat, sugar and
startch.
Atlanta is a dance Mecca - about 300-400 would turn out for a Cajun
dance, with either of the two local Cajun bands, Atlanta Swamp Opera or
Hair of the Dog - or one of the many Louisiana bands that would come
through. Contras would always produce a minimum of 100+ dancers.
Dances would always be a time for unusual or colourful clothing - the
men in Hawaiian shirts or tie-dyes, shorts, jeans, loose harem-style
pants and lots of bandanas. The women - well, women seem to dress the
same for Contra wherever you go. My general impression is that this is
a more conservative society than the South and I feel a little
self-conscious in a Hawaiian shirt, although I have a firm belief that
a man cannot have too many ugly Hawaiian shirts.
All this makes me sound like a hot dancer, and at one time that was
almost true, but that was then and this is now. I was only a good as my
partner made me look. One of my favourite dance partners taught me to
always smile and hold out my hand so that my partner could grab it -
and doing that, no matter what happened, as long as she got my hand, it
looked like we meant for whatever happened to happen. Other than that,
I have two left feet. And two left hands.
These days, I work as a Career Counsellor here in Toronto. I train in
Aikido, a Japanese martial art based on body movement, which I have
been doing for 37 years. I taught in Atlanta and ran my own school in
Chattanooga. I have also done T'ai Chi for more than 20 years. Yes, I
am an old man.
I have a background as a fine artist - used to teach at an art school
in Montreal. I love to sail and had to get rid of my boat when I left
the US. In Chattanooga, I worked in the IT field and was involved in a
classic dot-bomb which went belly-u after a year & a half, taking over
$100,000,000 down the tubes. I was a chef, having studied under
Japanese, Chinese and Thai chefs, and used to have a catering business
in Atlanta, which specialized in Native American cuisine as I was the
Coordinator of the Native American Center of Georgia. No, I am not
Native American, although I was an active part of the community and
went to many ceremonies and dances in different states. I cook every
kind of cuisine - Italian, Indian, Vietnamese, Greek, Latin, and many
others.My big fave is Southern - especially New Orleans and Cajun. I
love to cook for friends and family. My family wanted me to open a
restaurant when I moved here, but I don't want to work as a chef
anymore - too much pressure. Why take something enjoyable and make it
an obligation?
Whew! That's a long email, isn't it? Guess I was in the mood to write!
I look forward to meeting everyone at a dance soon.
Forgive the spelling - it's been a long day and my eyes are getting
blurry and I find myself squinting. Told you I was old.
Barry.
deborahbarry
It's nice to hear from you. I really enjoyed reading your email. I
lived and danced in Toronto for many years but now live near Ottawa.
I expect you are right about the relative conservatism - although all
Canadian dancers are very accepting of various dress styles. Some of
the (otherwise conservative) male Ottawa dancers went to The Flurry
(festival in NY State) a couple of years ago and came back keen to wear
skirts so we have quite a variety of styles here. ANd, yes, one can
never have too many ugly Hawaiian shirts.
Cheers,
Deborah
PS If you married me and took my last name you could become Barry Barry
ra...@radun.net
> I expect you are right about the relative conservatism - although all
> Canadian dancers are very accepting of various dress styles.
Oh, I thoroughly believe that the local dancers would be very accepting. I
would expect nothing else from the dance community. My remarks were really
a reflection of my own inhibitions as a newcomer.
There's a comedienne, Margaret Smith, who has a very dead-pan delivery.
She'd say that her agent used to tell her to dress up more for her act and
wear bright red lipstick. Her response was, "What if I'm not funny? Then
I'll be stuck up here on stage with unfunny words coming out of these Big
... Bright ... Red ... Lips!!!"
That's kind of how I feel. Coming into a new community - if I'm gonna draw
a lot of attention to myself by wearing a wild shirt, I'd better be able
to deliver on the dance floor (and I'm so rusty, I don't need to draw
attention to myself). If not, I'll be left standing there like a Shriner
at an out-of-town convention, wearing a loud shirt and the red whoopee
clown nose that honks when squeezed, smoking a giant cigar, shouting,
"Did'ja hear the one about the two Imams who walked into a bar ... ?"
> skirts so we have quite a variety of styles here. ANd, yes, one can
> never have too many ugly Hawaiian shirts.
The same thing happened in Atlanta with "man-skirts" :) and then some.
When I ran the bar in Atlanta and wore Hawaiians to work, someone gave me
a great button that read, "WINNER - Ugly Hawaiian Shirt Contest" - I loved
it!
Moving to Toronto made me realize that I just don't have enough black in
my wardrobe! Or is gray the new black? Or is it white? ;> Just kidding,
y'all - I really do like it in Toronto. It has so much more than the
rhinestone on the Bible Belt-buckle of the Ol' South - like ethnicity and
multi-culturalism. Oh, how I missed ethnic neighbourhoods with ethnic
foods and people of other cultures. Can't get my family to go for good
Chinese, Thai or Indian food. Their idea of good Asian food means going to
some restaurant where there are no Asians and the staff and diners all
wear black turtlenecks and the food is Fuuuuusion. Hence, my remark about
my wardrobe.
> PS If you married me and took my last name you could become Barry Barry
Very scary, Ms.Barry! I'd best not tarry to tell my friend Larry in
Ft.Gary. Did I tell you my middle name is Jerry abnd that I never eat
dairy and at home I like to wear a sari? A joke - just making merry and
being contrary.
On the dance front, I can't think of any style I don't like, although I
have no great love for Ballroom. I admire the talent and ability of the
dancers, but I'm too stocky and don't own any see-through shirts that open
to the waist. I also don't like how much the men point the toe. Just not a
style for which I have an affinity or an elegant, tall, slim body. And ...
I s-w-e-a-t! Sssh! Don't tell anyone. Ballroom dancers are not allowed to
perspire. They lose points, don't they?
Did some Country & Western in Atlanta, including some line dances. Even
learned the Cajun Slide at Cajun dances. Again, I didn't care all that
much for C&W, although I have a serious passion for Western Swing music.
Didn't like the strangle-hold grip that men have on their partners in C&W.
My favourites are still Cajun/Zydeco, Contra and Swing. I also love just
wingin' it in any club to whatever the band is playing. Went to several
Waltz-only dances - I love the Waltz. It's a beautiful dance. Also love
slow and sleazy, like Blues and the Mamou Two-Step. Also thought the
One-Step was fun.
In my younger days, before I learned how to really dance, I did all the
usual non-contact dances, but now I don't do them anymore. Nothing cmpares
to two parnters dancing together in contact with each other. I remember
going to weddings, wakes , bar mitzvahs, whatever - and there would always
be one couple who had obviously learned to dance and I just couldn't help
but stop and watch and envy the magic they had.
Now that I'm here, I have a mission, and that's to learn Latin dancing. I
have a huge collection of Latin music - lots of Brazillian music, too.
That stuff moves me and I'm determined to learn some. Went to Salsa On
St.Clair this summer and the dancers knocked me out. But there are so many
places to learn here in Toronto ... I wouldn't know where to begin. Any
input from folks would be appreciated.
Barry.
glitchless
Spinner wrote:
> I was a very active dancer, being introduced to the dance community through my then-girlfriend, Barbara.
Hey Barry,
This wouldn't happen to be Barbara Brown? I've danced in Atlanta and I
knew her some years ago, we met in Hawaii where I purchased as many
shirts as I could afford.
I'm a newbee to Toronto as well coming from Vancouver, where Hawiian
shirts are a must for the fashion conscious :-) I'm currently living
in Hamilton, but I come in for dances when I can. I play fiddle and
will be playing at the Jan.27th dance.
If you've danced in Ashland North Carolina you've probably heard one of
my tunes, "Flying Home to Shelley" it's been recorded by 9 groups, but
the 1st. three where all from Ashland.
Tunefully
Paul